CLEARWATER – Pinellas County Sheriff’s investigators arrested a Clearwater man Oct. 31 in connection with a June 1 hit and run crash involving seven vehicles in Safety Harbor.

According to the sheriff’s report, Saeed Ali Williams, 23, has been in the Pinellas County Jail on unrelated drug charges since August. Investigators added charges of one count of leaving the scene of an accident resulting of injuries, one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding and one count of reckless driving resulting injury.

According to deputies, just before midnight on June 1, a deputy on patrol saw a white BMW traveling westbound on Curlew Road make an illegal U-turn. The deputy initiated a traffic stop, but the BMW fled. The deputy deactivated his emergency lights, and did not pursue the BMW. Reports indicate the BMW ran at least two red lights before causing a seven vehicle crash at the intersection of McMullen Booth and Enterprise in Safety Harbor.

The BMW driver fled the scene on foot and was not apprehended that night. Several persons received injuries from the crash, – none were seriously hurt. Many of the seven vehicles involved were heavily damaged.

During the course of the investigation, DNA samples were obtained from the interior of the BMW. Investigators obtained “touch” DNA evidence from the driver’s side door airbag, and submitted it to the Combined DNA Index System for analysis. The results of this DNA test and other evidence led deputies to Williams – who was already in the Pinellas County Jail on unrelated drug charges.

Early on in the investigation, deputies had information that Williams was the BMW driver, but the DNA evidence helped put him behind the wheel.